Post by schlanky on Mar 26, 2019 16:28:40 GMT -8
I made it to Virgin Falls for the first time in a few years on March 16. I'm posting a report since stuff has changed since last time I was there.
It’s now all reservation for overnighters; you reserve it at the Fall Creeks Falls reservation page:
reserve.tnstateparks.com/fall-creek-falls
There are three reservation sites at the cable crossing, four sites at Martha’s Pretty Point, three sites at the falls (though I only spotted two of them) and four down at the river. 14 sites in all.
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There is a small ranger station at the trailhead that looks like it’s staffed sometimes (folks were there Saturday, but not Sunday). The ranger there told me that they have plans to do more—they’ve gotten access to additional areas and they’re working on access for more. BUT, there are no trails built on any of the newest acquisitions yet. He mentioned a couple of waterfalls, vistas, etc., so there may be some other stuff available in coming years. Both guys at the ranger station were really nice.
I meant to ask them if the spots down the left side of Scott Gulf Road on Polly Branch are still open on first-come, first-served basis, but forgot to do so. Since that’s outside of the VF Natural Area, I’m assuming nothing has changed there in regard to reservations/access.
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There are a couple of new trails in the area.
New trail: From the trailhead, after about a quarter mile, a trail splits right to go to Matha’s Pretty Point. It’s called the Upland Trail. From the split, I think it was about 2.25 miles to Martha’s Pretty Point. Part of it is trail, but a lot of it is an old road. If you’re looking for an easy way to get to or from Martha’s Pretty Point, this is an easy way to do so. Otherwise, there’s no reason to ever walk this trail. It’s like the plateau trails at Savage Gulf, but less scenic except at a stream crossing that looks rock hoppable most of the time.
Other new trail: runs from Lost Creek State Natural Area and hooks into the Virgin Falls Trail right beside the falls—it’s called Rylander Cascades Trail. A sign kiosk at Virgin Falls says it’s 4.3 miles back to Virgin Falls on the old trail, and 4.5 miles to the Lost Creek parking area on the new trail.
I’ve not walked the trail from Virgin Falls to Lost Creek, but there was a really nice group of folks camped across the two sites next to me down by the river, and one of them had walked in from Lost Creek that day. She said that the area near the trailhead just a short walk from the car is really cool—mentioned a cave with a large mouth. But the trail from that area to Virgin Falls is not as scenic as the Virgin Falls Trail is from the cable crossing on. She said it would be great as a point to point hike going in on Virgin Falls and out to Lost Creek. I have a pic of elevation profiles that’s too grainy to post, but it looks like on the Rylander Cascades trail, from either direction, you’re climbing to about the midpoint, then descending. The pic is so grainy that I’m guessing at what I’m seeing though. (maybe someone who has walked it can add to or correct me)
The sites down by the river seem more opened up than I remembered. Maybe it was just time of year before leafout, but there was zero break between the sites. It’s one long area with four fire rings and four signs denoting the sites. I could hear conversations of the parties on either side of me though neither was being disrespectfully loud—the sites are just too close together.
It’s now all reservation for overnighters; you reserve it at the Fall Creeks Falls reservation page:
reserve.tnstateparks.com/fall-creek-falls
There are three reservation sites at the cable crossing, four sites at Martha’s Pretty Point, three sites at the falls (though I only spotted two of them) and four down at the river. 14 sites in all.
----
There is a small ranger station at the trailhead that looks like it’s staffed sometimes (folks were there Saturday, but not Sunday). The ranger there told me that they have plans to do more—they’ve gotten access to additional areas and they’re working on access for more. BUT, there are no trails built on any of the newest acquisitions yet. He mentioned a couple of waterfalls, vistas, etc., so there may be some other stuff available in coming years. Both guys at the ranger station were really nice.
I meant to ask them if the spots down the left side of Scott Gulf Road on Polly Branch are still open on first-come, first-served basis, but forgot to do so. Since that’s outside of the VF Natural Area, I’m assuming nothing has changed there in regard to reservations/access.
----
There are a couple of new trails in the area.
New trail: From the trailhead, after about a quarter mile, a trail splits right to go to Matha’s Pretty Point. It’s called the Upland Trail. From the split, I think it was about 2.25 miles to Martha’s Pretty Point. Part of it is trail, but a lot of it is an old road. If you’re looking for an easy way to get to or from Martha’s Pretty Point, this is an easy way to do so. Otherwise, there’s no reason to ever walk this trail. It’s like the plateau trails at Savage Gulf, but less scenic except at a stream crossing that looks rock hoppable most of the time.
Other new trail: runs from Lost Creek State Natural Area and hooks into the Virgin Falls Trail right beside the falls—it’s called Rylander Cascades Trail. A sign kiosk at Virgin Falls says it’s 4.3 miles back to Virgin Falls on the old trail, and 4.5 miles to the Lost Creek parking area on the new trail.
I’ve not walked the trail from Virgin Falls to Lost Creek, but there was a really nice group of folks camped across the two sites next to me down by the river, and one of them had walked in from Lost Creek that day. She said that the area near the trailhead just a short walk from the car is really cool—mentioned a cave with a large mouth. But the trail from that area to Virgin Falls is not as scenic as the Virgin Falls Trail is from the cable crossing on. She said it would be great as a point to point hike going in on Virgin Falls and out to Lost Creek. I have a pic of elevation profiles that’s too grainy to post, but it looks like on the Rylander Cascades trail, from either direction, you’re climbing to about the midpoint, then descending. The pic is so grainy that I’m guessing at what I’m seeing though. (maybe someone who has walked it can add to or correct me)
The sites down by the river seem more opened up than I remembered. Maybe it was just time of year before leafout, but there was zero break between the sites. It’s one long area with four fire rings and four signs denoting the sites. I could hear conversations of the parties on either side of me though neither was being disrespectfully loud—the sites are just too close together.
Had the brightness jacked up trying to show the river after sundown...
